Messiah (George Frideric Handel)

Question 1

Date

Answer 1

1742

Question 2

Circumstances of performance

Answer 2

a benefit concert in Dublin, composed the previous summer in only 24 days

Question 3

Genre

Answer 3

oratorio

Question 4

Time signature (at least for everything we look at)

Answer 4

C

Question 5

structure

Answer 5

(53 mvmts in total) Part 1: prophecy of coming of Christ, Part 2: Christ’s suffering, death, and spread of his doctrine, Part 3: the redemption of the world through faith

Question 6

performing forces

Answer 6

S,A,T,B soloists with SATB chorus and string orchestra + continuo + oboes, bassoons, trumpets, and timpani

Question 7

Overture: title

Answer 7

Sinfony

Question 8

Overture: genre

Answer 8

French overture

Question 9

Overture: Form

Answer 9

A (repeated) B

Question 10

Overture: key

Answer 10

E minor

Question 11

Overture: Time signature

Answer 11

C

Question 12

Overture: A: Tempo

Answer 12

Grave

Question 13

Overture: A: Texture

Answer 13

homophonic

Question 14

Overture: A: predominant rhythm

Answer 14

dotted figure (some interpret: double dotting)

Question 15

Overture: B: Texture

Answer 15

polyphonic (fugal), 3 voices

Question 16

Overture: B: subject 1st introduced by

Answer 16

1st violins and oboes

Question 17

Overture: B: answer

Answer 17

tonal

Question 18

Overture: A: affection

Answer 18

unknowing, fear, and a sense of nobility

Question 19

Overture: B: affection

Answer 19

urgent, yet more hopeful than section A. at times it feels almost didactic

Question 20

There were shepherds: 1: text

Answer 20

There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night

Question 21

There were shepherds: 1: type

Answer 21

recitativo secco

Question 22

There were shepherds: 1: key

Answer 22

C major

Question 23

There were shepherds: 1: tempo

Answer 23

not indicated

Question 24

There were shepherds: 2: text

Answer 24

And lo! The angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid

Question 25

There were shepherds: 2: type

Answer 25

recitativo accompagnato

Question 26

There were shepherds: 2: key

Answer 26

F major

Question 27

There were shepherds: 2: tempo

Answer 27

Andante

Question 28

There were shepherds: 2: word painting

Answer 28

the ascending 4-note pattern in the accompaniment suggests the flapping of angels' wings

Question 29

There were shepherds: 3: text

Answer 29

And the angel said unto them 'Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord'.

Question 30

There were shepherds: 3: type

Answer 30

recitativo secco

Question 31

There were shepherds: 3: key

Answer 31

begins in D major

Question 32

There were shepherds: 3: tempo

Answer 32

not indicated

Question 33

There were shepherds: 4: text

Answer 33

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heav'nly host, praising God, and saying"

Question 34

There were shepherds: 4: type

Answer 34

recitativo accompagnato

Question 35

There were shepherds: 4: key

Answer 35

begins in D major

Question 36

There were shepherds: 4: tempo

Answer 36

not indicated

Question 37

There were shepherds: 4: word painting

Answer 37

more flapping of angels wings suggested in the accompaniment

Question 38

Glory to God: type

Answer 38

chorus

Question 39

Glory to God: key

Answer 39

D major

Question 40

Glory to God: tempo

Answer 40

Allegro

Question 41

Glory to God: text

Answer 41

Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men

Question 42

Glory to God: texture

Answer 42

voices: homorhythmic, alternating with polyphonic sections "and peace on earth"

Question 43

Glory to God: word painting

Answer 43

"and peace on earth": terraced dynamics (f to p), and all voices + accompaniment cease rapid passages and slow down

Question 44

Rejoice Greatly: type

Answer 44

soprano aria

Question 45

Rejoice Greatly: key

Answer 45

B flat major

Question 46

Rejoice Greatly: tempo

Answer 46

allegro

Question 47

Rejoice Greatly: form

Answer 47

ABA1

Question 48

Rejoice Greatly: A: text

Answer 48

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion. rejoice greatly, shout, o daughter of Jerusalem. Behold thy king cometh unto thee

Question 49

Rejoice Greatly: A: word painting

Answer 49

the melisma on the word rejoice, inspiring an exuberant mood, and imitating sounds of rejoicing. Also "shout" in "shout o daughter of Jerusalem" is significantly higher in pitch, and sounds like a real shout

Question 50

Rejoice Greatly: B: key

Answer 50

G minor

Question 51

Rejoice Greatly: B: text

Answer 51

"He is the righteous Savior, and he shall speak peace unto the heathen

Question 52

Rejoice Greatly: B: contrast

Answer 52

minor key, much slower, and no rejoicing melismas are present :)

Question 53

Hallelujah: type

Answer 53

chorus

Question 54

Hallelujah: key

Answer 54

D major

Question 55

Hallelujah: tempo

Answer 55

Allegro

Question 56

Hallelujah: text

Answer 56

Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipoteth reigneth. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of lords, Hallelujah!

Question 57

Hallelujah: texture

Answer 57

homorhythmic texture on opening "Hallelujah", and imitative polyphony on "and He shall reign for ever and ever"

Question 58

Hallelujah: contrast

Answer 58

"the kingdom of this world" is significantly softer than the lines immediately preceding and following it. In addition, the homorhythmic lines are significantly more forceful than the rest of the piece.

Question 59

Hallelujah: climax

Answer 59

At section G, the piece begins to transition from the polyphonic texture of the middle sections into a homorhythmic one. When homorhythmic texture is achieved, the entire chorus climaxes in a drawn out "Hallelujah", which then ends the piece.

Question 60

Review and Reflection: Rejoice Greatly

Answer 60

ternary (ABA), and highly embellished, ornamental lines

Question 61

Review and Reflection: Shepherds

Answer 61

Basso continuo (the recitativo secco parts)